Feature

Exploring DU campus
with American Friends

Rubeath Angel &
Shohag Mostafij

STRATEGIC and International Management (SIM) is a global subject. With increasing number of market players, the job markets are becoming very competitive. In fact, for surviving in the competitive world and enhancing the standard of education, the stream (SIM) is introduced as a major in the MBA program of the Department of Management Studies, University of Dhaka. The students of SIM are taught to be well aware of the global market and some other aspects of the business world. The students of the regular MBA program (SIM) are always keen to enhance their practical knowledge and communication skills by interacting with students or expatriates working around the country. During the month of June Dhaka University usually remains closed for summer vacation. In this month, students of DU became hosts and an interaction was held between the students of University of Colorado, USA and MBA (SIM), DU. An initiative was started to explore some of the remarkable places in DU along with the invited American students.

A group consisting of nine American students visited and explored the DU campus. Most of the students were from University of Colorado. The members in the team included Robby Shaun, Ryan, Adam, Ashley, Avary, Sarah, Mary and Bethney. They have been in Bangladesh for two weeks. An American expatriate in Bangladesh Mr. Zechariah basically arranged the tour for the students in Bangladesh.

After they had arrived, Shohag Mostafij a Student of SIM accompanied them from the guesthouse at Kalyanpur to DU Campus. Initially the American and the DU students stood in a circle and introduced each other. Afterwards, the new friends were shown around the classes of business faculty and introduced to students from different batches. After visiting the business faculty they went to 'Aparajeyo Bangla' and participated in a photo session.

They were amazed to see the statue and eager to know about its history.

Afterwards, a rickshaw journey to see the Curzon Hall followed. Eight rickshaws were hired for the students to move around the campus. After reaching the Curzon Hall Bethney, Avary, Ashley, Mary and Sarah were moved by the jute and clay products which were being sold on the opposite side of the road. Bethney was very excited with the mirror-bag she bought from there. The American friends were impressed by the Curzon Hall architecture. Everyone then rested on the green patch in front of the hall as Robby took out his guitar to sing some English songs with Avary playing the violin. Robby sang a few melodious numbers and his friends chorused with him. Suddenly Bethney and Mary stood up and started dancing. A bit later Shohag and Shaun joined them as well.

The next destination was the faculty of Fine Arts. In the mean time they had some ice cream. After reaching the Fine Arts Dept., everyone was amazed to see some of the spectacular works done by the fine arts students. There was a painting exhibition of school students at the Zainul Gallery. Shohag, Shaheen, Angel, Ishrat and Farhad were explaining the theme of the exhibition to their foreign friends.

After having a lot of fun, discussion, song and dance it was time for the American friends to leave the campus. There was a prayer session with all of us holding each other's hand and Bethney conducted the prayer. It was a day of unforgettable memories taking the mutual learning process further irrespective of culture, colour or religion. The new friends are planning to revisit Bangladesh sometimes soon.